The Best Driver-Assist Cars

Driver-assist systems automatically look out for hazards on the road and can help save your life. Of course, self-driving features are pretty cool, too. Of the cars we've tested, these offer a range of the best driver assists.

Bottom Line: The all-new 2017 Volvo S90 offers sleek but understated Scandinavian style and comfort, the latest driver assists, and one of the best infotainment interfaces in the midsize luxury sedan seg...

Doug NewcombAlex ColonThe Best Driver-Assist CarsDriver-assist systems automatically look out for hazards on the road and can help save your life. Of course, self-driving features are pretty cool, too. Of the cars we've tested, these offer a range of the best driver assists.

What Cars Have the Best Driver Assist Features?

While no one likes a backseat driver, it can be a real lifesaver to have an extra set of eyes on the road. Driver-assist systems use cameras and sensors to watch out for hazards like a car in your blind spot or suddenly stopped ahead. That's even better than having an actual human onboard, since these systems never get tired, can see better in bad weather and low light, and you can usually turn them off if they start to become annoying.

Driver-assist systems provide audible or visual (and sometimes physical) alerts if they sense a potentially dangerous situation, and some can even take action such as applying the brakes to avoid a collision or steering a car back into its lane. Others add conveniences like active cruise control to take some of the monotony and hassle out of driving.

While driver-assist systems used to be found primarily on high-end cars, they're now available across all vehicle segments. Here are five common assists to look for when shopping for a new car:

Blind Spot Detection/Assist

While all cars have side mirrors that can reduce blind spots when properly adjusted, sometimes they're simply not enough to keep other vehicles from entering an area which you just can't see. But cameras or sensors installed in a side view mirror can tell when a vehicle pulls alongside you, and can trigger a warning light or sound an alert—sometimes both—to let you know it's not safe to change lanes. Some cars also have an active form of blind spot detection called that steers you back into your lane if a vehicle is detected next to you when changing lanes.

You can also add a camera to your car in the form of a dash cam, some of which have safety alerts.

Lane Departure Warning/Prevention

Drifting out of your lane when looking away from the road for a moment to, say, change radio stations, is common—and a common cause of accidents. Most lane departure warning systems use cameras mounted on the side mirrors or near the rearview mirror to watch for lane markings and warn you when a tire is about to unintentionally drift over them. Lane departure assists work similarly, but can steer you back into your lane using braking or steering inputs in addition to issuing an alert.

Driver assists on the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE

Forward Collision Warning/Prevention

Collisions are one of the most widespread types of accidents. They're a frequent cause of fender benders in stop-and-go traffic, and can be deadly at highway speeds. A forward collision warning system uses a radar sensor and/or a camera to detect a vehicle ahead and the distance to it, and alert the driver with an audible and visual warning if it determines that an accident is imminent. Forward collision prevention systems go a step further and actively apply the car's brakes to prevent or mitigate an accident. Some systems can also detect pedestrians and even cyclists, and apply the brakes to avoid hitting them.

Active Cruise Control

Cruise control is convenient for long drives, but having to constantly turn it off and on when encountering slower cars can be a hassle—and make you want to switch it off for good. Using a radar sensor, active cruise control (ACC) can tell when a car ahead is moving slower than your car and reduce your speed accordingly. ACC systems usually have a setting that allows varying the gap between your car and the vehicle in front, depending on how comfortable you are with the distance in between. Some systems can also take the car to a full stop and allow it to creep slowly ahead, so that you never have to touch the brake or accelerator in stop-and-go highway traffic.

Automated Parking

While some people are parking pros, others dread the thought of squeezing into a spot, even one with plenty of room. Automated parking systems can help by completely taking over the task. Onboard cameras can even detect a suitable spot as you drive by, and then take control of steering and even braking to ease the car into place. While most offer parallel parking, some systems can also maneuver a car into a perpendicular spot.

Bottom Line: The all-new 2017 Volvo S90 offers sleek but understated Scandinavian style and comfort, the latest driver assists, and one of the best infotainment interfaces in the midsize luxury sedan segment.

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About the Author

Doug Newcomb is a recognized expert on the subject of car technology within the auto industry and among the automotive and general media, and a frequent speaker at automotive and consumer electronics industry events. Doug began his career in 1988 at the car stereo trade publication Mobile Electronics, before serving as editor of the leading consume... See Full Bio

Alex Colon is the managing editor of PCMag's consumer electronics team. He previously covered mobile technology for PCMag and Gigaom.
Though he does the majority of his reading and writing on various digital displays, Alex still loves to sit down with a good, old-fashioned, paper and ink book in his free time. (Not that there's anything wrong wit... See Full Bio

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